Letters: Knead Baking Co. in Ojai is great for breakfast

Regarding “Both Gentle and Genteel,” by Christopher Reynolds, July 15: A place in Ojai that should have mentioned is Knead Baking Co. at 469 E. Ojai Ave. It is a family-run business, and you can eat inside or on the patio. They have great pastries, also breakfast and lunch sandwiches plus beer and wine.

We had breakfast there both days we were in Ojai. It was outstanding. The sweets were amazing. I usually don’t like scones. I tasted my wife’s cheddar and dill. It was super. The bread was also very good. If one goes to Ojai, don’t miss Knead.

Bob Moss

Mission Viejo

Santa Barbara does not have decent restaurants. Most are tourists traps (greasy spoons). The only one that excels is Downey’s.

John Rosati

Simi Valley

Airline seating

Regarding Catharine Hamm’s article “A Premium Pain” [On the Spot, July 15]: We just returned from Europe via Newark, N.J., and had a similar experience, but it wasn’t just lack of transparency. The United personnel were deceptive and, I might add, abusive. We had three seats on four legs: LAX to Newark to Milan, Italy, to Newark to LAX. On all flights we had three seats together. On the flight from Newark to L.A., we had two seats reserved (no charge) and no seat reserved for the third seat.

Fifteen hours ahead, there were only three seats available, all showed as premium with a $69 charge. Of course, not wanting the worry, we booked and paid. On arriving at the airport, the special services person was dismissive and hostile: “Why would you trust a computer; you should have waited to talk to a person.” The company drives you to the website, and the personnel castigate you for using it.

In fact, in my experience, it doesn’t function most times, and I have to spend time on the phone or at the airport fixing things. The airline is deceptive, inconsistent and not transparent. This is not a way to treat customers, let alone frequent fliers. Friends in first class have had equally annoying stories to tell.

S.R. Weimer

Los Angeles

Premium service on United to JFK is the best and worth the money, especially the business-class section. In my opinion, it’s the only way to get to New York. By the way, SeatGuru.com helps. I’m amazed that much of the flying public can’t and doesn’t do much research before flying.

Will Jolley

Los Angeles

London memories

I was most interested to read the July 8 roundup of accommodations and eats in London [“Cool Rooms, Hot Eats,” by Carolyn Lyons]. I was born and raised in that city, and during the 1960s worked at Ronnie Scott’s famous jazz club, which was then on Gerard Street in Soho. One of my favorite places to eat was Jimmy’s (just around the corner). I was amazed and pleased to see that it’s still in business and would highly recommend it. It has great atmosphere and, as I remember, quite authentic Greek food. I shall plan a visit myself soon.

Francesca Nemko

San Luis Obispo